NJ mom charged in disabled adult daughter's death

Friday, July 5, 2013

TOMS RIVER (AP) — Aggravated manslaughter charges have been filed against a southern New Jersey woman stemming from the death of her disabled adult daughter, whose decomposed remains were found in the home they shared.

Janet Wilson of Manchester also faces charges of desecrating human remains and neglect of a disabled adult. Authorities say her daughter was homebound and dependent on her mother for care.

Ocean County prosecutors say the 53-year-old Wilson was found late last month at a Nevada motel and was returned to New Jersey on Thursday after she waived extradition. She was being held Friday on $250,000 cash bail, and it was not known if she had retained a lawyer.

Authorities also say Wilson did not report the death of her 32-year-old daughter, Rebecca Wilson, to federal officials and was still getting her daughter’s disability checks. They say Wilson had recently transferred $600 from the daughter’s bank account to her account.

Rebecca Wilson’s body was found in her home May 30 by police responding to reports of a strange odor at the residence. The remains were discovered after officers forced their way inside, and no one else was in the home.

Authorities executed a search warrant at the home the following day, but their investigative efforts were hampered by “the condition of the residence.” Further details were not disclosed, but the home was soon declared uninhabitable.

Nearly three weeks after Rebecca Wilson’s body was found, authorities traveled to Nevada after learning Janet Wilson was in the Reno area. She was arrested there June 20.

Authorities have not disclosed a cause of death for Rebecca Wilson or when she may have died.